COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Taking a few antacids after some spicy food may ease your heartburn, but there could be a very painful and surprising side-effect. New research suggests that people who take acid-reducing drugs may be more likely to develop migraines. These acid-reducing drugs include proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, esomeprazole), histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers like cimetidine and famotidine), and antacid supplements.
To be clear, scientists at the University of Maryland are not claiming that they have definitive proof that acid-reducing drugs cause migraines, but they did document an association between the two.
Acid reflux refers to when stomach acid flows into the esophagus, which usually occurs after a meal or while lying down. People with acid reflux tend to experience heartburn and ulcers, and those with frequent acid reflux may develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may lead to cancer of the esophagus.
“Given the wide usage of acid-reducing drugs and these potential implications with migraine, these results warrant further investigation,” says study author Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN, of the University of Maryland in College Park, in a media release. “These drugs are often considered to be overprescribed, and new research has shown other risks tied to long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, such as an increased risk of dementia.”
To conduct this research, the study authors assessed data pertaining to 11,818 people who provided information on their personal use of acid-reducing drugs, as well as whether or not they experienced any migraines or severe headaches over the prior three months.
In all, 25 percent of participants who reported taking proton pump inhibitors dealt with a migraine or severe headache, compared to 19 percent of those not taking the drugs. In total, 25 percent of people taking H2 blockers had severe headaches, in comparison to 20 percent of those who were not taking those drugs. Finally, 22 percent of people taking antacid supplements had severe headaches, compared to 20 percent of people not taking antacids.
After researchers adjusted for additional factors that could potentially influence the risk of migraine (age, sex, use of caffeine or alcohol), they discovered that those taking proton pump inhibitors were 70 percent more likely to have a migraine than people not taking those drugs. Others taking H2 blockers were 40 percent more likely, and those taking antacid supplements were 30 percent more likely.
“It’s important to note that many people do need acid-reducing medications to manage acid reflux or other conditions, and people with migraine or severe headache who are taking these drugs or supplements should talk with their doctors about whether they should continue,” Slavin adds.
Slavin stresses that this study only looked at prescription drugs. Some of the studied drugs became available for over-the-counter use at non-prescription strength during the course of the study period, but the use of those over-the-counter drugs was not included in this report.
Meanwhile, other studies have shown that people with gastrointestinal conditions may be more likely to deal with migraines, but Slavin notes that the relationship probably doesn’t fully explain the link between acid-reducing drugs and migraine found in this study. This project was also limited by the small number of participants taking the drugs, particularly H2 blockers.
The study is published in the journal Neurology Clinical Practice.
